Hobart to Alice Springs7 – 16 August 2013

We have listened to your suggestions and in
2013 we will include Tasmania as the launching pad for another Postie Bike
Challenge adventure. We currently have our team scouring over the best routes,
roads and fire trails through Tasmania. Our route through Victoria is still
being planned but I can say that we are making a beeline for the edge of the
Flinders Ranges in South Australia before taking the Oodnadatta Track to our
final destination in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. As in previous events
we will be looking for all manner of roads and surfaces to challenge you. If we
can find a good sand track … we’ll take it! If we can find a water crossing …
we’ll take it! If there is a fire trail to the top of a mountain … we’ll take
it!

We are planning to be part of the Henley on Todd event which is a huge yearly
event in Alice Springs over the weekend after our arrival. We are still early
in the planning process but expect that all riders will be invited to take part
in the Grand Parade and also get free access to the Corporate boxes for food and
drink while enjoying the best seats in town for the Henley on Todd festivities.

I’ve already done two
Postie Bike Challenges[1]
and I really, truly, honestly wasn’t going to do another one … until I read
about the fantastic route being planned for the 2013 Postie Bike Challenge.

A Postie Bike Challenge
ride through Tasmania was definitely the most enticing part of the proposed
route for me – it’s a wonderful (and my favourite) place for motorcycling[2].
Also, and because I already knew how well Postie Bike Challenge routes are
planned, I was confident that the route chosen for Tasmania would be awesome –
there is so much on offer in Tasmania that it really couldn’t be anything else!
Added to this were the bonuses of riding through the Flinders Ranges and along
the Oodnadatta Track, and taking part in the ‘Henley on Todd’. In the end
I couldn’t resist the irresistible and I signed up for another Postie Bike
Challenge!

By the time the 2013
Postie Bike Challenge started 50 other adventurous motorcyclists had also signed
up – I was one of 40 men and 11 women who rode a Postie Bike out of Hobart on 7
August and I was one of 37 men and 10 women[3]
who rode a Postie Bike into Alice Springs 10 days later. I was also one of
about a dozen riders who had completed at least one, and up to five, previous
Postie Bike Challenges – evidently many other past Postie Bike Challenge riders
also thought the fantastic route planned for the 2013 Postie Bike Challenge was
irresistible!

There were several
family groups on this year’s Postie Bike Challenge including four couples, two
father/son sets[4],
one brother/sister set, and one father‑in‑law/son‑in‑law set. There were also a
few groups of friends who were ‘just a bunch of mates going for a (Postie
Bike Challenge) ride together’.

As with all Postie Bike
Challenges the riders came from many walks of life and had varying levels and
types of riding experience – some had never ridden on unsealed roads and one was
a learner rider. The riders ranged in age from 19 to 72 this year – Ross
Challinger, the oldest rider (and my riding buddy for most of the Challenge),
had given himself the Postie Bike Challenge as a 72nd birthday
present!

While most riders were
from Australia there were also six riders from New Zealand and one rider from
the United Kingdom. (This was the fifth consecutive Postie Bike Challenge for
Chris Wright from the UK – he’s seen more of Australia than most Australians!)

Chris Wright from the UK – back for Challenge #5!

For the first time in
the history of the Postie Bike Challenge all riders received comprehensive
details of the complete route (eg, run‑sheets with GPS coordinates and maps with
the route highlighted) a few weeks before the Challenge started. In previous
Challenges riders had only received basic details of the route (eg, run‑sheets
without GPS coordinates) the day before the Challenge started. Even though I
had already worked out the most likely routes for some sections of the Challenge
(eg, from Marree to Alice Springs), I was pleased to receive the detailed route
information ahead of time because I was keen to know where we’d we riding in
Tasmania …'

The proposed route …

So even before the
Challenge started we knew the whole route, where we’d staying each night and, if
the organiser’s calculations were correct, how far we would ride each day and
the total length of the Challenge (almost 3,200 kilometres):
Day 01 – Hobart to Cradle Mountain (344 kms)
Day 02 – Cradle Mountain to Devonport (377 kms)
Day 03 – Melbourne to Horsham (291 kms)
Day 04 – Horsham to Loxton (340 kms)
Day 05 – Loxton to Orroroo (353 kms)
Day 06 – Orroroo to Parachilna (251 kms)
Day 07 – Parachilna to William Creek (382 kms)
Day 08 – William Creek to Oodnadatta (198 kms)
Day 09 – Oodnadatta to Marla (205 kms)
Day 10 – Marla to Alice Springs (441 kms)

Another difference this
year, and something we only found out about the day before we left Hobart, was
that there wouldn’t be any brightly coloured strips of surveyor’s tape to guide
our way and mark the turns. (In the other Challenges I’d done one or two of the
support crew left before the riders each morning and marked the turns with
surveyor’s tape.) This time around we were going to be much more reliant on the
run‑sheets and our Hema ‘Atlas of Australia’ maps – I knew from past
experience that Postie Bike riders did not always head off in the right
direction or turn where they should!

During the Challenge we
were accompanied by two support crew (Dan Gridley and Mick Gridley) and three
mechanics (Richard Howard, Andy Boyd and Scott Peterson) in three support
vehicles – two 4WD dual‑cab utility trucks and the official ‘Postie Bike
Challenge’ truck. Even though the support crew and mechanics encountered
the same road and weather conditions as the Postie Bike riders they had the
added benefits of better weather protection, more comfortable seats and
air‑conditioning!

The ‘Postie Bike Challenge’ truck

As well as carrying oil,
chain lube and some spare parts for the Postie Bikes, each support vehicle was
also equipped with a comprehensive First Aid kit and satellite phone. The
support vehicles also had spare seats but, barring significant illness or
injury, every rider was expected to sit astride their Postie Bike all the way
from Hobart to Alice Springs!

One dual‑cab ute carried
a couple of spare Postie Bikes and towed a box trailer for refuelling (it had an
extra 5 litre fuel can for each Postie Bike and several 20 litre fuel cans).
The other dual‑cab ute towed a long, flat‑bed trailer capable of carrying up to
six Postie Bikes: this was also the designated ‘Tail End Charlie’ support
vehicle and it always travelled behind the last rider – no matter how slowly
they rode or how often they stopped!

In addition to carrying
the personal effects and camping gear for all the Postie Bike riders, support
crew and mechanics the ‘Postie Bike Challenge’ truck also doubled as a
mobile Postie Bike workshop and spare parts store. When the truck arrived at
our final destination each day the mechanics setup a workshop and, in addition
to carrying out scheduled maintenance tasks, they worked their magic with
repairs. All three mechanics did a great job day in and day out and often
worked on well into the night – and even out in the open and freezing cold at
Cradle Mountain – while everyone else relaxed.

Andy and Richard fixing a Postie Bike

When and where possible,
and because one of the aims of the Postie Bike Challenge is to support local
communities along the way, the meals are provided by local charities and/or
community groups. This year, however, most of the meals were catered for by
local businesses because many of the very small towns where we stayed for the
night were also quite isolated.

Mobile phone reception
was good most days and this enabled us to maintain regular contact with our
family and friends. It also gave those so inclined and equipped the opportunity
to update their blogs and social media websites with photos and tales – both
tall and true – of our shared experiences.

Compared to the previous
Challenges I’d done this year was unusual in that we didn’t have to pitch our
tents until the fourth night – we stayed in cabins for the first two nights and
camped in large, heated sheds on the third night. Some riders, however, avoided
the whole ‘camping thing’ whenever they could by staying in a cabin, pub
or motel.

By the time we arrived
in Alice Springs we had ridden our Postie Bikes more than 3,300 kilometres over
10 days (and we’d ridden between 250 and 450 kilometres each day). We had also
travelled almost 1,000 kilometres on unsealed roads (and we rode more than 650
kilometres of this distance over three consecutive days). The condition of the
unsealed roads varied from smooth, hard‑packed dirt – on which we could
comfortably travel at 60‑70 KPH – to deep sandy patches, bone‑rattling
corrugations and long stretches of large, loose gravel (some of which also had
lots of sand thrown in for good measure).

The daytime temperatures
ranged from just above 0oC on the first two days to almost 35oC
on the last day. In Tasmania we struggled to keep our hands, feet and bodies
warm (although we were warned ahead of time about how cold it might be[5]).
By contrast, it was so hot as we made our way to Alice Springs on the final day
(which was also the longest day in terms of the distance we rode in a single
day) that some riders became dehydrated. Although the weather was mostly fine
we did encounter heavy rain, strong winds and thick fog some of the time – but
that was only while we were in Victoria!

All the riders met each
other, the support crew and the mechanics at the Hobart Showground the day
before the Challenge started. Each rider was assigned the Postie Bike that
would (hopefully) carry them all the way to Alice Springs and attended a
briefing given by the mechanics on the all‑important daily maintenance routine
for their Postie Bike.

Each rider also received
a Postie Bike Challenge polo shirt and baseball cap, a Hi‑Vis vest, a Hema
‘Atlas of Australia’ and a printed set of run‑sheets. Every Postie Bike was
fitted with a milk crate that could hold a 5 litre fuel can, a First Aid kit, a
lunch box and a couple of drink bottles (I replaced one with a Thermos for hot
drinks) – it also had a bit of extra space for whatever else we could stuff in!
Apart from fitting a lid or cover to the milk crate (to keep its contents on the
inside) some riders also added accessories – I fitted a SPOT GPS Messenger to my
bike[6]
– or personalised their bike with a ride mascot.

Many riders also fitted
one or more types of weather protection to their Postie Bike to protect them
from the freezing cold conditions that were expected in Tasmania during the
first two days. Fairings made from corrugated plastic, custom made hand‑guards
and fur‑lined handlebar muffs were the ‘must have’ fashion accessories
for the Postie Bikes this year! I fitted a fancy blue fairing that Murray
Nettheim, a veteran of every Postie Bike Challenge since 2008 (including the two
I’d already done), had designed and made for me. (Murray also gave me a pair of
plastic hand‑guards – these were great for providing protection from the cold,
big bugs and flying rocks.)

All set up and ready to be Challenged!

Day 1: Hobart to Cradle Mountain

Despite being ready
bright and early to leave Hobart on the first day our departure was delayed for
an hour while the organisers waited for confirmation that the unsealed road
through Liawenee in central Tasmania was open. This region had experienced a
‑12oC night (the coldest since records had been kept in the area) and
very heavy snow falls four weeks earlier and the roads were still subject to
closures.

Even though it was still
quite cold when we finally left Hobart the temperature dropped steadily as we
headed north‑west and by the time we stopped in Tarraleah for a much needed
break – and a hot drink or two – it was so bitterly cold that some riders,
including Murray, were shivering uncontrollably.

After leaving Tarraleah
Ross and I took a detour from the official route to see a 100 year old wooden
pipeline that still carries water from Laughing Jack Lagoon to Bronte Lagoon.
The pipeline was made using a construction method similar to wine kegs (eg, wood
staves and hoops) and I’d only found out about it a few months earlier. (I was
hoping to get a chance to see it during the Challenge – after receiving the
run‑sheets ahead of time I realised it was very close to the route we’d be
taking!)

Wooden pipeline

As Ross and I were
riding back along the Lyell Highway to rejoin the official route a Postie Bike
rider whizzed past us in the opposite direction – I didn’t think much of it at
the time as I figured they must have been heading off to do some sightseeing of
their own. (We found out that evening the rider had missed a turnoff and
continued on for another 30 kilometres or so before realising their mistake!)

After rejoining the
official Postie Bike Challenge route Ross and I continued along the unsealed and
snow‑lined Marlborough Highway and Highland Lakes Road and passed through
Liawenee and the Great Western Tiers (which, at more than 1,200 metres, was the
highest elevation we reached during the Challenge) on our way to Deloraine to
refuel. (Dan told us that evening that some Deloraine locals were not aware the
Postie Bike Challenge was passing through the town – a local radio station
broadcast a call from a disgruntled resident complaining that ‘the Posties
are riding up and down the main street but not delivering any mail!’)

Great Western Tiers scenery

From Deloraine we headed
west through Chudleigh and Mole Creek and past Mount Roland on our way to Cradle
Mountain. Due to our late departure from Hobart it was almost dark – and very,
very cold again – by the time we arrived in Cradle Mountain.

Day 2: Cradle Mountain to Devonport

We woke to a freezing
cold and very frosty morning on the second day and everything that had been left
out in the open (eg, bikes, helmets, gloves, etc) was covered in a thick layer
of ice – the overnight temperature had dropped to a rather chilly ‑6oC!
While most riders had come well prepared for very cold weather I don’t think
anyone had expected the mornings to be quite this cold. Also, and even though
the temperature was hovering around 0oC when we left Cradle Mountain,
the wind chill factor when we were riding along meant that it felt much, much
colder (according to the thermometer on my jacket the temperature got to as low
as ‑3oC).

With an early morning
start and the freezing cold conditions there was a high risk of ice on the very
damp and shaded roads that would take us towards the west coast after we left
Cradle Mountain. With the support vehicles slowly leading the way we rode our
Postie Bikes carefully behind them all the way from Cradle Mountain – and for
almost 30 kilometres – to the Murchison Highway. Thankfully we didn’t encounter
any ice and we were able to pick up the pace once we reached the Murchison
Highway.

Not long after I turned
onto the Murchison Highway I realised the throttle on my Postie Bike was stuck
wide open and the only way I could slow down was to use the brakes. Fortunately
the road conditions were such that being stuck on a Postie Bike going flat out
(with a top speed of about 75 KPH!) wasn’t too scary. However, with the turnoff
to Waratah only a few minutes ahead of me I needed to work out fairly quickly
how to slow down enough to make the sharp left turn without causing a Postie
Bike pile‑up by doing something sudden or unexpected. I figured the best thing
to do was slow down as much as possible using the brakes, then use the kill
switch to stop the engine, and then coast around the corner until I could safely
stop on the side of the road. Thankfully the throttle started working again
just as I reached the Waratah turnoff and I didn’t need to test out my plan …

After a quick stop in
Waratah to get the mechanics to check the operation of the throttle on my bike
(the diagnosis: the freezing cold conditions had caused the slide in the
carburettor to stick) Ross and I headed off in the direction of Savage River.

Believing the risk of
icy roads was now behind us a long stretch of black
ice in a deeply shaded downhill corner just after we’d left Waratah caught
everyone out by surprise. Ross and I were very lucky not to run off the road or
crash into anyone else when we literally slid around other Postie Bike riders on
the very icy corner. Nine or ten Postie Bike riders had accidents while trying
to negotiate the treacherous conditions and sadly Kathy McPhail’s second Postie
Bike Challenge ended when she broke her wrist.

Kathy – still smiling despite her broken wrist

Ross and I took it easy the rest of the way
to Savage Riverjust in case there were any
more icy patches waiting to take out unsuspecting Postie Bike riders
(fortunately we didn’t find any). The bitumen road ended at Savage River and
from there we continued along the unsealed Corinna Road before turning onto the
Western Explorer Road. (The surprisingly bright white gravel surface of the
Western Explorer Road, which winds its way through beautiful wilderness forests
and vast button grass plains, is made using the tailings of a silica mine in
Savage River.)

Somewhere along the Western Explorer Road

Most of the surface of
the Western Explorer Road was in good condition and firmly packed (although
Trevor Vuillermin’s Postie Bike Challenge ride ended when he came off and broke
some ribs after hitting a patch of loose gravel). Also, and even though the
road was very steep in some parts the steepest sections were sealed. (We were
lucky the Challenge started when it did – a major landslip 10 days later closed
the Western Explorer Road for 8 months!)

Our Postie Bike
Challenge ride along some of the best unsealed roads in Tasmania ended when we
reached the bitumen again. Our destination this day was the ‘Spirit of
Tasmania’ ferry terminal in East Devonport from where we would catch the
overnight ferry to Melbourne. After refuelling at Detention River we all
sprinted – as much as one can sprint on a Postie Bike – across north‑west
Tasmania to reach our meeting point near the ferry terminal on time. (I arrived
with just enough spare time to sample a delicious Tassie Scallop Pie from a
nearby bakery.)

Staff from ‘The
Advocate’ newspaper were there to interview and photograph us as we arrived
at our meeting point – they were doing an article about the Postie Bike
Challenge and it was published the following day with the title ‘51 postie
bikers begin 3800km trek to deliver for Rotary fund‑raiser’.

After boarding the ferry
and settling into our cabins we were treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner after
which we relaxed together in the bars and lounges. (With the ‘Postie Bike
Challenge’ truck and all the Postie Bikes safely stowed in the hold the
mechanics had their only night off during Challenge). Fortunately the
conditions in Bass Strait that night were calm and it was smooth sailing all the
way to Melbourne – I’m sure Dan was relieved when he didn’t have to deal with
seasick Postie Bike riders, support crew and mechanics the next day!

Day 3: Melbourne to Horsham

It was cold and wet (and
still quite dark) when we arrived in Melbourne and our first stop – when I
eventually found it – was a nearby service centre for breakfast and to wait for
the support vehicles to arrive. The weather conditions deteriorated as we left
Melbourne and, as a result, we had to contend with strong winds and heavy rain
for the first part of the day. After riding through thoroughly miserable
weather for almost an hour many of us stopped at a cafe near Ballarat and, even
though some of us were literally dripping wet, we were made to feel welcome.
While I was waiting to be served I noticed a daily newspaper nearby and was
amused when I saw the very prominent title of a front page article. The very
same day almost 50 Postie Bike riders had arrived in Melbourne on the ‘Spirit
of Tasmania’ ferry the Herald Sun newspaper had a front page article with
the big, bold title ‘BIKIE DRUG BOAT’!

We’re not bikies – our colours are Hi‑Vis!

Not long after Ross and
I left Ballarat my Postie Bike started running poorly and it eventually broke
down 25 kilometres from Ararat. As I waited for one of the mechanics to arrive
Ross rode on to Ararat to let Dan know I’d broken down. While I was standing in
the rain near my bike, which was parked on the very narrow sealed shoulder of
the road, it was blown over by a strong gust of wind caused by a passing
B‑Double truck – I managed to catch it before it knocked me over as well! After
a short wait Richard arrived in the ‘Postie Bike Challenge’ truck – he
managed to get my Postie Bike running again and I was able to continue on to
Ararat to meet Ross.

Broken down on the way to Ararat

My Postie Bike broke
down again twice before I got to Horsham – fortunately Richard and Andy were
able to coax it back into life each time. It received some TLC in the Postie
Bike workshop that night (where the cause of the problem turned out to be a mix
of bad fuel and a dirty carburettor) and after that it ran perfectly for the
rest of the Challenge.

Chris Wright (the rider
from the UK) withdrew from the Challenge for personal reasons after we arrived
in Horsham. Chris had completed all four previous Challenges – some of which
were very difficult – and it was really disappointing for all those who knew him
that he could not stay and finish this Challenge.

When Jenny Whitlock and
I arrived at the Horsham Showground we were greeted by mutual friends we’d made
during the two previous Postie Bike Challenges we’d done together (Ian & Sally
Trigg from 2009 and Ray Ottey from 2012). It was great to catch up with them
again – especially as each of them knew from personal experience what a Postie
Bike Challenge was all about!(Plus Ian and Sally treated us to
afternoon tea at a great cafe in town.)

In Horsham there was
plenty of undercover space for our Postie Bikes (and the mechanics workshop) and
large, heated sheds for us to camp in. Many riders took advantage of the
industrial strength fan heaters to dry out their water logged motorcycling gear
– jackets, pants, gloves and socks were hung or draped from every possible
vantage point and the floor space near the heaters was covered in boots!

After dinner Dan
informed us of a route change for the following day – he’d received advice that
part of the planned route, the unsealed Nhill‑Murrayville Road, was in poor
condition following recent rain. Apparently, and even though he was sure the
Postie Bikes would cope with the very muddy conditions (even if their riders did
not fare so well), Dan was concerned the ‘Postie Bike Challenge’ truck
(which is not a 4WD vehicle) would get bogged. As a result of the changed route
and a forecast for warm, fine weather we would have a longer but easier ride –
and given what we’d been through since the start of the Challenge this change
was welcomed by all!

Day 4: Horsham to Loxton

Despite the predicted
fine weather Horsham turned on a very cold and foggy start to the day and we had
to ride through a pea‑soup fog almost all the way – and 75 kilometres – to
Nhill. We then continued on to Kaniva, with its Sheep Art statues lining the
main street, before crossing the South Australian border. Thankfully the
weather improved as we headed west and it was fine and warm by the time we
stopped in Bordertown to take a break and refuel.

From Bordertown we
headed north towards Pinnaroo along the Ngarkat Highway, passing bright yellow
fields of canola along the way. When we stopped at a rally point near Paruna,
about 30 kilometres from Loxton, we were welcomed by a group of local
motorcyclists who had ridden out to meet up with us – including one with his own
beautifully customised Honda CT110. We then rode in a group formation to the
Loxton Showground where we setup camp – this was the first night of the 2013
Postie Bike Challenge on we’d had to pitch our tents!

Not your usual Postie Bike …

The Rotary Club of
Loxton put on a great meal for us and while I was chatting with one of the
Rotarians after dinner he told me that, and courtesy of my SPOT GPS Messenger
updating my website, he’d been following our progress ever since we’d left
Hobart! Later that evening we helped Richard celebrate his birthday – Andy (who
is also Richard’s brother‑in‑law) had rather tastefully decorated the ‘Postie
Bike Challenge’ truck just for the occasion!

Day 5: Loxton to Orroroo

Our ride to Orroroo
started with a ferry ride across the Murray River at Waikerie – and avoiding a
flock of sheep – as we headed north‑west towards Morgan.

One of the first Postie
Bike riders who arrived in Morgan realised a motocross meeting was being held
nearby and organised for the Postie Bike Challenge riders to do a lap of the
track. Quite a few riders (including Ross, Jenny and I) passed up the offer but
many others decided they were up for the challenge and 25 intrepid Postie Bike
riders lined up at the starting gates at the Morgan motocross track! When Mick
and Andy arrived in Morgan they also realised a motocross meeting was being held
nearby and, not knowing that’s where most of the Postie Bike riders had
disappeared to, they decided to check out some of the local action before
continuing on to Burra. They arrived just as the starting gates dropped and
were very surprised to see 25 fully‑laden Postie Bikes take off. (Apparently it
was quite a sight to behold – especially as some riders even managed to get
their Postie Bike airborne over the jumps!)

Ready, set, …

An accident during
‘The Great Morgan Postie Bike Motocross Race’ also ended the 2013 Postie
Bike Challenge for Terry Mavay – he came off and broke his collarbone after
another rider collided with him. While Mick and Andy took Terry to the nearest
hospital (50 kilometres away and in the opposite direction to which we were
heading) everyone else continued on to Burra – and a long, unplanned stop as we
waited for Mick and Andy to catch up.

From Burra we rode
through Jamestown and Appila on the way to Orroroo. There was a last minute
change to the planned route when a creek crossing turned out to be quite a bit
higher than expected – apparently Postie Bikes aren’t amphibious vehicles!

Despite leaving Loxton
under clear skies it became increasingly cloudy during the day and just after we
arrived in Orroroo it started to rain. With the threat of more rain overnight
most riders opted to either pitch their tent undercover in the stands or sleep
in one of the many outbuildings at the sportsground where we were staying.
Jenny and I chose the latter option and shared a large disabled bathroom
together (this also gave us the chance to recharge our mobile phones and camera
batteries).

After enjoying a great
roast dinner and watching a video of ‘The Great Morgan Postie Bike Motocross
Race’ we were entertained by John O’Dea (an Orroroo local who is also an
Australian country music songwriter and singer) for the rest of the evening. In
addition to performing the songs of many well known artists – including Billy
Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ for which he played both the guitar and the harmonica
– John also sang many of his own compositions. He’s a very talented artist and
it was a really enjoyable way to end the day!

John O’Dea performing at Orroroo

Day 6: Orroroo to Parachilna

For me this day marked
the beginning of the most interesting part of the Challenge as we were now
heading for lots of places I’d previously only seen on postcards and in travel
guides and documentaries.

The route for this day
had been planned to give everyone plenty of time to do some sightseeing along
the way. At less than 300 kilometres this was a relatively short day so many
riders took the opportunity to stop at the Cradock Pub for a latte – and to
check out the quirky sculptures nearby – before continuing on to Wilpena Pound
to refuel.

Flinders Ranges from Razorback Lookout

From Wilpena Pound we
continued on through the spectacular Flinders Ranges National Park via the
Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorge Roads before passing a rocky ridge line known as the
‘Great Wall of China’ on the way to Blinman. After taking a short break
in Blinman we headed west through the steep and rocky Parachilna Gorge on our
way to Parachilna.

After setting up camp we
spent the evening at the Prairie Hotel (where we also had one of the best meals
of the Challenge) and were treated to one of the beautiful Parachilna sunsets
John O’Dea had sung about in one of his own songs the night before.

Unfortunately a
livestock truck parked near our campsite that night and our sleep was broken by
the sounds of restless cattle moving around all night ...

Day 7: Parachilna to William Creek

Getting ready to leave Parachilna

After a great breakfast
at the Prairie Hotel – which included a delicious egg and bacon roll – we set
off for William Creek nearly 400 kilometres away. Almost 270 kilometres of the
distance to William Creek was unsealed – this was the longest stretch of dirt
roads we rode in a single day and it was also the first of the three days we
spent riding along the unsealed Oodnadatta Track (almost 620 kilometres). This
day also marked the start of the very warm weather – and the millions of pesky
flies – that would accompany us for the rest of the Challenge.

After riding through
Leigh Creek and Lyndhurst we stopped in Marree for a break and to refuel.
Marree is where the southern end of the Oodnadatta Track begins. It’s also
where the very distinctive pink and white roadside signs that highlight points
of interest along the Oodnadatta Track (many of which had been hand‑painted
on the lids of 44 gallon drums) began to appear. To those in the know we were
clearly on our way to the iconic Pink Roadhouse!

Pink Roadhouse sign near Marree …

The first part of the
Oodnadatta Track took us past the southern end of Lake Eyre and the Mutonia
Sculpture Park with its imposing sculptures including ‘Plane‑Henge’,
‘Big Dog’ and ‘Windmill Flower’. Even though the Oodnadatta Track
was, for the most part, in good condition there were some sandy patches, a few
sections of bone‑rattling corrugations and lots of dry floodways filled with
deep sand (and occasionally loose gravel as well). These variable conditions
caught some riders out by surprise and resulted in a number of accidents –
fortunately, and apart from a few bruised egos, all the riders who had spills
only sustained minor injuries.

Many riders opted to
stay in cabins at the caravan park in William Creek and, after not getting much
sleep the previous night, I was one of them! There was a beautiful rippled
cloud formation at sunset in William Creek and it prompted one rider to quip
‘even the clouds out here are corrugated!’

Day 8: William Creek to Oodnadatta

Jenny chose to camp at
William Creek and while I was chatting with her as she packed up her tent and
gear she said ‘I think some funny shit went on here last night – one of my
rubber thongs is missing’.

I told her we’d been
warned the previous evening not to leave anything outside our tents or cabins as
the local Dingoes were in the habit of stealing stuff. Apparently Jenny hadn’t
heard the warning and, from the look on her face, I could tell she thought I was
joking – until I found her missing rubber thong (complete with a set of fresh
teeth marks) off in the bushes a few metres away from her tent!

When we arrived in
William Creek the previous day we were met by a reporter (Bryan Littlely) and a
photographer (Barry Skipsey) from the ‘Centralian Advocate’, an Alice
Springs newspaper. Bryan and Barry had travelled almost 700 kilometres
to gather information and take photos for an article they were doing on the
Postie Bike Challenge[7].

As we went about our
usual morning routines of packing up, checking our Postie Bikes and preparing to
leave Bryan and Barry spent time mingling with us. Bryan chatted with us while
Barry took photos of individuals and small groups. Barry also setup some group
shots of the 47 Postie Bike riders who ended up completing the 2013 Postie Bike
Challenge – the photo below appeared on the front page of the ‘Centralian
Advocate’

Postie Bike riders at William Creek

At just over 200
kilometres this was the shortest day of the Challenge and the scenery was both
striking and diverse as we rode through the gibber plains that form part of the
landscape along this section of the Oodnadatta Track. Just off to the sides of
the road were the ruins of old buildings, the skeletal remains of several
abandoned trucks and numerous reminders of the Old Ghan Railway (including the
Algebuckina Bridge which, at 580 metres, is the longest bridge in South
Australia).

Some parts of this leg
of the Oodnadatta Track were very rough and anything that wasn’t firmly secured
inside – or onto – our milk crates was jettisoned. When I stopped to collect
another Postie Bike rider’s motorcycle jacket liner (which also had their mobile
phone in the pocket) I discovered my wet weather gear was missing from the lid
of my milk crate. :(

The very rough road
conditions also resulted in a number of Postie Bikes getting flat tyres and as I
rounded a long, sweeping left‑hand bend I noticed the ‘Postie Bike Challenge’
truck stopped up ahead with a Postie Bike. As I was riding in the far left
wheel track I had to cross the long, deep ridges of sand that separated the
wheel tracks so that I could pass the truck on the right side of the road. I
had just made it to the centre of the road when I saw it – the driver’s door of
the ‘Postie Bike Challenge’ truck was wide open – and I was heading
straight for it! I knew another Postie Bike rider was just behind me and to my
right and I needed to move into the wheel track they were riding in so as not to
hit the open door. Thankfully the rider behind me saw my predicament and slowed
down to allow me to move over in front of them and safely pass the truck!

The rest of my ride that
day was uneventful and I arrived in Oodnadatta, which has the unenviable claim
of being Australia’s hottest and driest town, about mid‑afternoon. After I’d
setup camp in the very dusty caravan park I found my missing wet weather gear in
a milk crate that contained lots of other ‘lost’ stuff that had also been
rescued from along the Oodnadatta Track that day! :)

There’s not much to see
or do in Oodnadatta but thankfully the Pink Roadhouse (in which almost every
piece of furniture and souvenir is some shade of – well – pink!) was open for
business and it was cool and spacious inside. We spent a very relaxing
afternoon there, and after a great evening meal, we helped Jenny celebrate her
birthday with a cake!

The Pink Roadhouse was
established by Adam and Lynnie Plate in the early 1980s – they had lived in
Oodnadatta’s very harsh conditions since 1974 and also raised their family
there. Adam had personally named the Oodnadatta Track in 1979 and he was
responsible for the informative pink and white road signs we’d seen dotted along
its length. Adam also promoted tourism in the region and provided a lot of
assistance and free information sheets to travellers – including the Oodnadatta
Track Mud Map.

Oodnadatta Track Mud Map

Most Postie Bike riders
probably weren’t aware that Adam, a passionate motoring enthusiast and keen
motorcyclist, had been tragically killed almost exactly one year earlier while
competing in the Australian Targa Championship Rally in Adelaide. Even though
the Pink Roadhouse had been for sale since before Adam’s death Lynnie had only
sold the business a month or so before we arrived and she left Oodnadatta for
the last time a few weeks later.

Day 9: Oodnadatta to Marla

Almost time for us to leave Oodnadatta too ...

We woke to a lovely
fine, warm day and after being welcomed to – and farewelled from – Oodnadatta by
Lynnie we set off for Marla. This last section of the Oodnadatta Track was also
in great condition and with not much to see or do along the way everyone had
arrived in Marla by lunchtime.

The northern end of the
Oodnadatta Track marked the end of the unsealed roads for the Challenge and, to
celebrate, many riders stopped at the large ‘Oodnadatta Track’
information sign near Marla to have their photo taken – some were even spotted
kissing the bitumen nearby! There was a collective sense of achievement when
every one of the 47 Postie Bike riders who had started riding their Postie Bike
along the Oodnadatta Track at Marree also rode into Marla – we had all survived
the most difficult parts of the 2013 Postie Bike Challenge!

As we pitched our tents
and setup camp we had to contend, yet again, with the millions of pesky flies
that, over the last few days, had seemed to appear out of nowhere whenever and
wherever we stopped. Fly‑swatting made the process so frustratingly slow that
one Postie Bike rider even resorted to wearing a mesh helmet bag over his head
for protection!

Day 10: Marla to Alice Springs

With a 450 kilometre
ride ahead of us this was the longest day of the Challenge and we had to make an
early start and maintain a good pace all day. Also, and despite the very
overcast morning, this also ended up being the hottest day of the Challenge.

Prior to leaving Marla,
and as part of the morning briefing from the mechanics, riders were reminded to
regularly check the engine oil level in their bikes. Andy had devised a novel
way to remind riders to do this during the 2012 Postie Bike Challenge – when he
called out ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ the Postie Bike riders were to answer
with the call ‘Oil, Oil, Oil’.

Oil, oil, oil …

When I stopped at the
Kulgera Roadhouse I noticed oil all over the left sidewall of my Postie Bike’s
rear tyre. When Andy arrived a short time later I called out ‘Oil, Oil, Oil’
and, thinking I needed some, he brought a bottle over. However, when he saw the
rear tyre Andy realised an engine oil seal had blown. Fortunately he knew it
wasn’t a serious issue and told me that, provided I kept checking the oil level,
I could ride my Postie Bike the final 270 kilometres of the 2013 Postie Bike
Challenge to Alice Springs. (I was pleased I didn’t have to change Postie Bikes
or travel the rest of the way in a support vehicle.)

As the day progressed it
became increasingly hot so as I approached Stuarts Well Roadhouse, about 90
kilometres from Alice Springs, I decided to stop for a much needed rest break
and to check the oil level in my bike again. I put my left indicator on,
started to slow down and checked my mirrors – there were two slip‑streaming
Postie Bike riders a short distance behind me on my left and a road‑train a bit
further back behind them. Incredibly, and just as I started to turn left into
the roadhouse driveway, both Postie Bike riders ‘undertook’ me using the
shoulder of the road at the same time as the road‑train overtook all of us and I
had to take evasive action to avoid colliding with the other riders and/or
ending up under the road‑train. I was really shaken by the near‑miss – I
couldn’t believe I’d nearly been taken out by two fellow Postie Bike riders so
close to the end of the 10 day, 3,300 kilometre long Challenge!

Ross arrived at Stuarts
Well Roadhouse while I was still there and as soon as I saw him I realised he
was not very well. As a result of the combination of a long, hot ride, not
drinking enough water and riding gear that was more suited to cooler weather
Ross had become dehydrated. Fortunately Mick and Andy recognised the symptoms
and Mick bought him a sports drink. The sports drink did the trick – Ross
recovered quickly and after also having a rest in the shade he was able to ride
his Postie Bike the rest of the way to Alice Springs – and become the oldest
rider to complete the 2013 Postie Bike Challenge!

Rotary put on a great
reception in a shady park and 47 Postie Bike riders shared their achievement of
completing the 2013 Postie Bike Challenge with each other, their family and
friends, and the support crew and mechanics. On the final night of the
Challenge we stayed in the luxurious Chifley Alice Springs Resort, shared one
last evening meal together and watched a slideshow of photos taken during the
Challenge by some of the riders. After dinner Ross surprised everyone with his
very clever ‘2013 Postie Bike Challenge’ adaptation of the well known
Australian song ‘I’ve been everywhere, man’ and we all joined him in
singing it.

The 52nd Henley on Todd
Regatta

The 52nd
‘Henley on Todd Regatta’ was held the day after we arrived in Alice Springs
and Rotary invited all the Postie Bike riders to take part in the Grand Parade
and to attend the Regatta event afterwards as VIP guests with our family and
friends.

Before the Grand Parade
started some Postie Bike riders wrote a short message about themselves and the
Postie Bike Challenge on the petrol tank of their Postie Bike so that the new
owner could learn a little (there’s not much space on a Postie Bike tank) about
the history of their ‘new’ Postie Bike! Following the Grand Parade all the
Postie Bikes were donated to the Rotary Club of Alice Springs and then sold to
the public (the sale proceeds were shared with the Glenorchy Rotary Club in
Hobart).

Postie Bikes – only ever ridden to church on Sundays …

Following the Grand
Parade we spent the rest of the day in the VIP tent and, with some Postie Bike
riders participating in the novelty races and taking part in ‘The Imparja
Battle Boat Spectacular’ (the very loud and equally colourful event finale),
it was a very enjoyable, entertaining and relaxing way to celebrate the end of
the 2013 Postie Bike Challenge!

Kathy Leslie (#19)

So that’s it for me – I really am done
this time. I’ve completed three Postie Bike Challenges (each along a route that
had not previously been offered) and I’ve ridden Postie Bikes almost 10,000
kilometres through every state and territory (except the ACT); through strong
winds, torrential rain, hail storms and scorching heat; and through dirt, sand,
gravel, mud and snow. In addition, and with the help of my husband Ron who also
took part in the 2009 Postie Bike Challenge, I’ve raised almost $10,000 for
several charities.

The Postie Bike Challenge can be a very
demanding event, both physically and mentally, but it gives those who take part
the chance to ride (rather slowly) along roads less travelled and visit some
amazing parts of Australia; to meet interesting people and make lifelong
friends; and to support local communities and very deserving charities.

Don’t just put it on your bucket list – do
it!!

The key tags from my three Postie Bike Challenges

[1]
2009 (Brisbane to Melbourne via the Outback) with my husband; and 2012
(Perth to Broome) with my brother‑in‑law.

[2]
I first rode around Tasmania in 1980 on a Honda 400/4 and I’ve toured
there many times since: twice by motorhome; several times by car; and
once again by motorcycle.

[4]
Despite both fathers crashing out their sons continued on and completed
the 2013 Postie Bike Challenge!

[5]
Several days before the Challenge started we received a message from the
organisers advising: ‘There is a high chance of snow/rain/ sleet and
high winds in the highlands with wind chill of below 0 degrees ... but
beautiful scenery! J’

[6]
This nifty little device updated my website with details of my current
location every 10‑20 minutes during the Challenge.

[7]
It was a front page story the day we arrived in Alice Springs with the
title ‘Postie Pack – Special delivery for Alice’.